After Ballet Class...

So for those of you who are curious, here is a follow-up to my last blog post on my triumphant (haa!) return to ballet.
Class was as expected, difficult and hard to keep up, especially the allegro and travelling exercises. It wasn't so much that the moves were unknown, it was how fast it went! I can do a pique turn for sure but not at the speed my fellow classmates were going at. They would have run me over! I forget how unflexible I am as well. Compared to the bodies of 15-17 year olds, my 25 year old body might as well be that of a 65 year old! My classmates continue to surprise me with how high they can get their legs, beautiful back bends, and glorious ponches. Ahh, to be young.
With regards to my injured foot, it held up better than I thought it would. We were in soft soled shoes however, and this week we will take class in pointe shoes. I anticipate there will be a difference from soft to pointe in how my foot feels.
It was, besides the feeling completely out of shape, a refreshing and delightful experience. For those of you who dance, you know that feeling- the simple act of moving is what makes it beautiful and honestly, addicting. My new philosophy about working at this level (advanced, pre-professional) is to go full-throttle! I'm going to look ridiculous anyway, so I might as well go all-in.
Dancingly, Jenn
jenn@centralctfootcare.com
Dr Tina Boucher, Dance Podiatrist

Ballet After An Injury

Tonight is back to ballet!
I ended up in the advanced class, since that was the only class that fit my work schedule. I'm always apprehensive about joining the advanced class, since well, I'm far from advanced. The barre is never bad, or the port a bras and adagio, but when it comes to the allegro, boy, I know when I'm beat (sometimes literally! My beats have always been on the poor side.)
It's been since May when I last donned a pair of pointe shoes, and it was a rough summer. Early June I dropped a heavy glass reed diffuser on my right sandaled foot. The result was a soft tissue injury that still has not healed properly. I was in a soft cast for five days, wore a walking boot (very sexy, I know), and currently wear an ankle compression sleeve. Some days are good, some are not (like when Hurricane Irene blew through CT, I woke up in the night with awful pain.) I will follow up next week with a post on soft tissue injuries.
I spent almost an hour on Monday night sewing my ribbons and elastics on my new pointe shoes, which I'd had since Easter. Since I'm so tall (5'10") and have a rather large foot for a ballet dancer (9-9 1/2), getting a new pair of pointe shoes was hard. The combination I needed for my Gaynor Mindens does not exists (Gaynor sizing runs large, so I needed an 11 combination) so I had to settle for the closest thing. And no way was I going to get a traditional pointe shoe.
After my ribbons and elastics were sewn and I had put on my padding, I went to our kitchen to try them out. And there was pain. Pain, which I'm hoping is coming from the fact that they are new pointe shoes and not pain from my injury. I also forgot that while Gaynor Mindens don't need the "breaking in" that a traditional pointe shoe does, they still need to form to your foot.
Tonight will be a test in several ways: see how much strength my feet and ankles have lost over the summer, see if that injury will cause a problem, and see if I can keep up!
Dancingly, Jenn
jenn@centralctfootcare.com
Dr Tina Boucher, Dance Podiatrist

AFX: Great tool for Dancers

Matt from Progressive Health Innovations Inc.  got in contact with me several months ago about a product his company produces which is helpful for dancers. The product, AFX, or Ankle Foot MaXimizer, is a foot and ankle strengthener. Its unique design has a variety of resistance bands which allow a post-op patient or a high performing dancer balanced stretching.
Progressive Health Innovations is all about customer-focused innovation. The company was founded in 2005 by three Canadians looking to create a product that would help people suffering with foot pain: Dr. Jordan Myers, Matthew Ferguson, and Rick Hall. Dr. Myers, a chiropractor who saw that many of his patients needed foot adjustments. Dr. Myers soon realized that simply adjusting the foot and relieving the pain was not the complete answer to this foot dilemma. Strengthening the foot so the problem would not recur was the ultimate solution.

Unfortunately, when Dr. Myers went looking for a product to serve this purpose, he could find nothing except rubber bands and products so great they could not only cure your foot pain but cure cancer too! He needed a product that would allow patients to arch their foot and engage instrinsic muscles. With a plan in mind, Dr. Myers called long-time friend Rick Hall (MSc in Kinesiology) and Matt Ferguson, my contact, who had been working as the Medical Device Technology Manager at Simon Fraser University. And magic happened! With the three minds working together they created a product that would serve their initial goal: help those suffering with foot pain (very Three Musketeer-ish to me! All for one. Three people with individual strengths coming together to make one ultimate company.) Their design principles was that it had to be a complete strengthening product through all ranges of motion, allow for stretching, and so easy you could do it while you were watching tv. The team wanted to create the best foot and ankle strengthening product on the market.

So what they came up with was the AFX, a device that does exactly what they set out to do. Matt sent me the AFX to try, and I can see how this would help dancers especially. In one of the last dance classes I had this past season, we tried several "products" designed to increase your arch, help your turnout, maintain balance, etc. What antiques they are! The product for turnout are bulky, heavy shoes you strap on to sneakers and then do the exercises. The device to increase your arch was painful even to look at! You put your foot in this tube of sorts and while someone held it down, you pushed with your foot.

The AFX is something you can throw in your dance bag and take with you everywhere. It is highly portable, light-weight, and relatively easy to put together. There are different levels of resistence you can chose to work from, depending on your level of strength. I would suggest this to dancers who are at the professional level, students in dance schools, or those just looking to build strength. I had an injury this past summer in my right foot, and I know the AFX will help me build the strength I lost all the time I was in a walking cast.

I'll be creating some videos next week with exercises for dancers with the AFX, and I hope you check them out! Check on our Facebook or Twitter pages for more updates on the videos! And of course, make sure you try out the AFX.
Dancingly,
Jenn
jenn@centralctfootcare.com
Dr. Tina Boucher, Dance Podiatrist

Dear Jenn: Ankle Sprains

Dear Jenn,
I've found that I'm spraining my ankle a lot lately. I've been intensely training in ballet 4 hours a day, and I find that I'm spraining my ankle often. What could be the problem?

I've gotten a couple of e-mails about this, so it must be a common problem dancers are having! I personally have never sprained my ankle dancing, but with a weak right ankle, I'm sure it will happen someday.
An ankle sprain is an injury to one or more of the ligaments, typically on the outside of the ankle. Ligaments "band" one bone to another and bind joints together. These are especially important in the ankle because they allow side-to-side movement and stability.
An ankle sprain can be a minor or major injury, depending on how badly you injured the ligament. Is it stretched, partially torn, or completely torn? Remember that sprains are not the same as strains, which involve the muscles. You could perhaps have an ankle strain instead.
Sprains are usually caused by falls, spills, twists, and blows that force the ankle out of its normal position (in ballet, that means every position!). If you have weak ankles or previous sprains, you will be more susceptible to ankle sprains.

Symptoms include: pain or soreness, swelling, bruising, difficulty walking, and stiffness in the joint. Symptoms vary in intensity, depending on how severe the sprain is. You may feel your ankle is wobbly and unsteady. The important course of action is seeking immediate medical attention. It is important to get prompt medical attention because leaving it untreated may lead to chronice instability, which is characterized by persistent discomfort and a giving way feeling. A more serious injury could have also happened with the strain, including a bone fracture. The sprain could also be hiding the real source of the problem, which could be a more serious foot injury.

A podiatrist will x-ray your foot and obtain a history of the problem in their evaluation. They will recommend R.I.C.E., along with anti-inflammatory medications. The most important and hardest part of your treatment will be staying off that foot- I know, hard for dancers to do! But if you want get better and stay better, then you need to rest.

Dancingly, Jenn
jenn@centralctfootcare.com
Dr Tina Boucher, Dance Podiatrist

Ballet Products For Your Feet

Last night when I finished watching So You Think You Can Dance, I cozied up with the latest edition of Pointe Magazine. I came across an ad for Bunhead's latest product, Anti-inflammatory gel. I made a note to check it out online this morning.

Bunheads is a company that makes great dance accessories. In the past I've used several of their products, including Ouch Pouch, ProPad, the Big Tips and smaller tips for the other toes. I was not familiar with a line of products they have that are for the health of dancer's feet in particular. I had seen the foot wipes in an advertisement in Pointe Magazine before. They come in a box, 25 wipes per box and are designed for the dancer with sweaty feet. Use them immediately after dancing to kill bacteria and refresh your feet. Bunheads claims that they are antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial.
The Exercise Band looks an awful lot like Therabands, but perhaps there is a difference. The band comes in three different resistence levels: medium weight, heavy weight, and super heavy weight. It is designed to help you strengthen difference parts of the body, help young dancers strengthen their feet for pointe work, and for those coming back from injuries.
Toe Tape is used to prevent blisters and reduce friction. It's a crepe tape used by professionals, but I think anyone prone to blisters or chafing would find this product beneficial.
I love the name of this next product: Footsie Roller! This yellow roller comes higher in the center and tapers out to the edges. This is a good product for those who get cramps in their feet and arches while dancing and for those who get tired feet after rehearsal or class.
Foot Balm is a little like the Foot Wipes, but is a spray. It is designed to eliminate foot odor and dry up moisture on the foot. The Foot Balm is an all-natural product with seven essential oils that will moisturize the foot all day long. Your foot will not be slippery after spraying this on.

The anti-inflammatory gel is made of seaweed, water, and willowbark extract, along with other minerals and oils. One of the main ingredients is Arnica, which has been used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory treatment. It is combined with basil and Melissa. You would use it specifically on areas that are over-used, like your joints and muscles. This cocktail helps stimulate new cell growth and turnover.
If you have a product that you would like to review, please contact me at: jenn@centralctfootcare.com. I will entertain products of all kinds that would be helpful for dancers and their feet.
Dancingly,
Jenn
jenn@centralctfootcare.com
Dr Tina Boucher, Dance Podiatrist

So You Think You Can Dance Season 8 Week 4

I had called my mom to talk with her after getting home from an adventure with my husband and since So You Think You Can Dance was on, I asked her how the episode was going so far. "I'm not impressed," she commented. Overall, I would have to agree. Why does it seem that every other week, the shows are good? Perhaps last night was less than enthralling because the choreographers were mostly new to the show? And yes, when I saw a round-off, I did scream as promised.
Impressions and comments:
*Boy's Group Number: I loved how they had Marko in the center. He was very strong, believable, and my attention was drawn to him every time. I thought Jess also stood out in this routine. I'm having a difficult time this season believing some of the concepts these choreographers are coming up with. I don't know that I saw all seven stages of grief. I think the choreographers are trying too hard this year to come up with stories to entertain. Instead, why not just come up with a piece for dancing's sake alone?
*Melanie and Marko: When I looked at the choreographer, I assumed that his style would be Fosse-like, or jazz-Broadway. But when the routine began, it was not at all what I expected. The costumes were good, but again, I didn't see the concept played out. What I saw were two very good dancers doing a Spanish infused piece, with strong dancing.
*Sasha and Alexander: Here is a prime example of choreography gone wrong. Nigel said how he thought it was hip-hop 101- well, the dancers aren't to blame for that, the choreographer is!!! Sasha and Alexander had already proven that they could do hip-hop very well in the NappyTabs soldier routine, so this is clearly a case of bad choreography. I liked the use of the tree as a prop, and they were cute in the routine, but it was something you may have seen at your local dance studio.
*Jordan and Tadd: Odd, weird, but beautiful (?!) routine. I think Tadd stole the show once again. For a b-boy, his port a bras is amazing. My husband came down to watch the show for a while, and every time Tadd moved his arms, I went crazy. It proves that if you work hard enough and get over any kind of hang-ups you have about doing a genre outside of your own, it can be done. A side note: my new scream of the week: if I see Jordan do that one leg up in the air thing one more time, ahh!!! Find something else. Put the leg to the side, in front, somewhere else! We all know you can do that, so please stop. Now.
*Clarice and Jess: Finally! A piece where I felt like the chemistry was not forced between them. It was believable, real, and raw. When Clarice put her hand on Jess's side, and he pulled it away, the emotion that was on his face I bought. It was the first routine where I felt like they truly connected. However, isn't this routine about a couple breaking up? So they don't like each other anymore... Perhaps they channeled that from their own relationship!
*Ashley and Chris: Yuck, yuck, yuck. I almost fast-forwarded through this routine. Two weeks in a row, they've bored me. Compare this routine to the samba Caitlynn and Mitchell did last week, there are no comparisons. Mitchell didn't know how to do the steps either, but he was so much more believable than Chris was. Ashley to me just doesn't exude sexiness. She came across as cute, fun, but definitely not sexy!
*Ryan and Ricky: Another weird routine. Good song choice, and decent choreography, but I didn't see how fashion had ruined them. They looked like zombies who got into a closet, pulled out some clothes, and went dancing.
*Caitlynn and Mitchell: !!! What an awesome routine. Done by Mandy Moore, of course, who choreographed one of my all-time favorite SYTYCD routines- the jazz with Neil and Sabra. You remember that one. I didn't necessarily see that it was a love story, but more a celebration of love, happiness, and good feelings. The leaps Caitlynn did were unbelievable, and the passion, technique, and power it took to perform that are beyond anything anyone else on that show could have done. I thought it was sweet how emotional Mitchell was afterwards- congrats to him for making something out of his life and rising above hardship to follow his dream. He's an inspiration to all poor kids who want to dance.

*Girl's Group Number: Liked this routine from the new jazz choreographer much better than the one he did for Melanie and Marko. The girls were cunning, devious. Loved the walking bit the most!
Until next week!
Dancingly,
Jenn
jenn@centralctfootcare.com
Dr. Tina Boucher, Dance Podiatrist

So You Think You Can Dance Week 3

So after a lack-luster second week, where I was horrified and upset about Iveta and Nick being sent home (both one of a kind in their genre- what were the judges thinking? Especially after Iveta had been trying to get on the program for three or four years), I was hoping last week's episode wasn't going to be the same.
I must say I'm getting a little sick about hearnig how fabulous and beast-like the girls are this year. You're completely passing over the talents of Jess, Tadd (my favorite guy this year), and Marko.
Impressions this week:
*I didn't really care for either of the group numbers. The concepts were cool, but I don't think they were executed by all dancers as well as they could have been.
*Sasha and Alexander: It is clear which person people are voting for in this couple: Sasha. If the judges are thinking of beasts, Sasha is the prima beast. her every move, transition, and emotion is pure and raw. I feel what she's feeling. I can't say the same about Alexander, who I agree with Nigel has some room for improvement with regards to emotion. My favorite part of this routine was the end, where her hands come out of the piano. Genius.
* Caitlynn and Mitchell: All I could think about during this routine was how much Iveta would have killed it! I also commented several times about Mitchell's rear- he's got quite the bottom on him, which he moved well in the samba! This was a good routine, and I was surprised that they ended up in the bottom three couples. It had a current artist and song, and I always thought that people tended to vote for these types of dances (rather than the foxtrot. I'll talk about that soon.)
*Miranda and Robert: I wasn't disappointed to see Miranda go, but voting Robert off was a huge mistake. Just because he's been in the bottom several times doesn't mean that he's the cause of it- I think Miranda was. Can we talk about how Miranda needs to get better, non-loungerie costumes? It's like she's doing a strip show each time. Anyway. Here again the concept was good, but I really didn't believe either fully embodied the characters. The dancing itself was ok, but it wasn't a routine that I loved.

*Melanie and Marko: My favorite routine of the evening! Loved it. Was Marko truly crying, even after the routine ended? The kiss was just an added touch too. Glad to see NappyTabs back since I didn't think they were in an awful lot of episodes last year. It got a little silly and out of control when Nigel kissed Mary, but it was all in good fun.
*Ashley and Chris: Ugh. Worst routine of the evening. This is one that you can't blame on the dancers however. Sonya is just whack. I don't know if I've ever really liked one of her routines- they're just too weird. And if I see another round-off that ends on the floor, I'm going to scream!!! The music was weird, the dancing was weird, the concept was weird. Not surprised Chris and Ashley ended up in the bottom, but I thought it was going to be Chris that went home, not Robert.
*Jess and Clarice: Can I say how awkward I feel every time I see them dance together? Does anyone else feel the same? And it's not from Jess that I feel that coming from, it's Clarice. I feel like she's oozing "I can't stand you, I don't like you" vibes every time they dance. I was completely surprised that having done a foxtrot, which is not a "popular" dance, they did not end up in the bottom three. It was old-fashioned and I was surprised modern audiences "got it". Does the average 11 year old even know who Frank Sinatra is?
*Ricky and Ryan: Ryan had been one of my favorite girl dancers at the beginning of the season, but she needs to do something about her facial expressions when she's dancing! It seems like every time she's dancing, no matter the subject, she's smiling! This routine was clearly not a smiling routine. I loved the concept, and wanted it to work for Sonya, but it just wasn't as deep or emotional as some as the other routines we've seen on SYTYCD (remember the breast cancer routine? Or even last week, the soldier coming home routine?).
*Tadd and Jordan: What a fun routine. I couldn't believe that with all of Jordan's sexiness when dancing, that she was embarrassed to perform this routine. Tadd clearly stole the attention away from Jordan- as he should because he's a b-boy and hip-hop is close.
Let's see what transpires tonight!
Dancingly,
Jenn
jenn@centralctfootcare.com
Dr. Tina Boucher, Dance Podiatrist